A proposal to replace the former Martin’s Point Health Care building in South Portland with two affordable housing projects was met with resistance by neighbors at a recent informational meeting.
The Forecaster reported nearly 100 people showed up when the South Portland Housing Authority held an informational meeting May 9 on a proposal to build apartments or condominiums in the Knightville neighborhood Among the concerns: some liked the existing building and wanted to see a similar use go into it; others were concerned about increased traffic and the project’s size of 48 units.
“We don’t need a building that size for the neighborhood. We would be happy to take a number that would fit into our neighborhoods,” one commenter, Kathleen Egan, said at the meeting.
In a later interview, SPHA Executive Director Michael Hulsey told The Forecaster his organization will see if it is financially feasible to develop a smaller project.
Jon Rizzo, an associate at CBRE | The Boulos Company said the firm had the property listed for years and didn’t receive any interest.
Martin’s Point — the Portland-based nonprofit health-care and health-insurance organization that operates in southern Maine and Portsmouth, New Hampshire — maintained the South Portland site for 14 years, but outgrew the building and relocated to Scarborough.
